Postal's trial triumph boosts Armstrong

By SUZANNE HALLIBURTON, COX NEWS SERVICE

Published 10:00 pm, Wednesday, July 9, 2003

ST. DIZIER, France -- The long, cobblestoned road to Paris and Tour de France history got a little smoother for Lance Armstrong yesterday during a hot ride along the lush fringes of the Ardennes Forest.

Armstrong and his U.S. Postal squad dominated the 43-mile team time trial -- beating the next-fastest team by 30 seconds and lifting Postal team members to the top eight spots in the overall standings.

"In the team time trial, I always say it's either a gift or a curse," Armstrong said.

This year, the Postal ride was pure joy for Armstrong as he seeks to tie the Tour record of five consecutive victories when the race ends in Paris on July 27.

But it won't be Armstrong who'll be wearing the leader's yellow jersey today. Instead, Postal teammate Victor Hugo Pena is the Tour's new leader. Armstrong is in second place, one second behind his teammate.

Pena will celebrate his 29th birthday today as the first rider from Colombia ever to wear yellow.

"What I've realized today is a dream come true," said Pena. "In Colombia, everybody there knows something about cycling. It's impossible not to be a fan of cycling."

Despite his day in the limelight, Pena and the rest of the Postal team will ride in support of Armstrong for the remaining 1,750 miles between St. Dizier and the Tour's finish line.

"The plan stays the same," said Postal rider George Hincapie. "The team works for Lance. It's a great day for the team."

In the team time trial, the entire squad of nine riders stays together and the teams are sent off in intervals. The entire team receives the time of its fifth-fastest rider.